The drinking party was winding down, and Geom Mugeuk was acting like an old friend with Yang Seok.

“Young Master Yang, come with me to the Central Plains.”

“I’d be honored. Please broaden my narrow experience.”

If they drank a bit more, they’d probably be like sworn brothers.

Throughout the gathering, Hanseol diligently played her role—sympathizing with Yang Seok, occasionally taking his side. Though her intent was to understand him, it also became an opportunity to learn about herself.

So this is what kind of person I am.

She realized she could say things she didn’t truly mean, lie without trembling, and even observe Geom Mugeuk’s intentions behind his words. She had thought herself cold and detached but now saw she had other sides.

Until now, she had looked at herself alone, drawing conclusions in isolation.

I am this kind of person.

But the conclusion she had drawn then was clearly different from what she learned today.

Perhaps truly knowing oneself is not about staring alone into a mirror and deciding, but about discovering who you are among others—seeing how you really are reflected in their eyes.

Lost in such thoughts, Hanseol’s gaze met Geom Mugeuk’s.

“The Little Pill Master, it’s time for me to leave.”

“And you, Little Pill Master?”

“I’m going to drink all night with Young Master Yang.”

At those words, Yang Seok was overwhelmed by Geom Mugeuk’s presence.

“This man is truly extraordinary.”

He was here now, with the Lady of Binggung by his side. What on earth gave him the confidence to drink alone here without even a single subordinate? What if someone poisoned his drink? What if there was an ambush while he was drunk? It meant he believed he could handle anything.

“Exactly. This is the kind of man I can cut through with this blade.”

Yang Seok politely said,

“You’ve drunk a lot today. How about drinking again next time?”

Even Yang Seok, trying to restrain himself, was quite drunk. He thought he was sober, but Hanseol could see he was completely intoxicated—excited by being with the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master and unaware of how drunk he really was.

“Next time? We’re just getting started.”

Hearing his regret, Yang Seok wanted to shout, Are you Chimma?

“I’ll arrange another gathering.”

“Oh, that’d be a shame. Very well, we shall meet again soon.”

As Geom Mugeuk was about to leave, he turned and said,

“Oh, and be sure to contact me if you find the Extreme Limit Technique.”

“Of course.”

Geom Mugeuk and Hanseol left Bukhyeolmun together.

The carefree, laughing man from the drinking party had become calm as ever.

“Did you really plan to drink all night?”

Hanseol asked, and Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“Not a chance. Drinking is fun only with the right company. I was bored.”

She thought so too. She had just asked to test his acting.

“I never intended to let you go alone.”

“Really?”

“How could I? Who knows what the enemy might do? You must never move alone. Even Ian in Binggung must stay close to Chimma.”

Geom Mugeuk would not let his guard down until the matter was resolved. The enemy was the Blood King, after all.

“Worrying about the Lady of Binggung’s daughter in the Northern Sea.”

“She even dressed her daughter in protective armor.”

There was no rebuttal to that.

Walking beside Geom Mugeuk felt reassuring.

Hanseol had clearly seen how Geom Mugeuk handled Yang Seok. It wasn’t important that he deceived him, but that he convinced Yang Seok he was being used by Geom Mugeuk.

Hanseol stopped walking. Geom Mugeuk also paused, their eyes meeting under the moonlight.

“You’re scarier the more I see you.”

It wasn’t a joke.

She never imagined telling anyone that. Even if she felt such fear, she usually hid it.

For some reason, she was honest with Geom Mugeuk.

He smiled and said,

“Of course you should be scared. I am the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master.”

Seeing the faint smile on her lips, he continued,

“You must be scared. Think about the enemies we face—those who gather people to experiment for the constitution they want, killing them afterward. Those who use self-destruct techniques without hesitation and even kill their own kin. If you aren’t scared, how can you face such foes?”

Laughing and chatting while drinking, she realized he had those thoughts all along. That made her think Geom Mugeuk was scarier than the enemies. Facing those foes seemed easier.

“If they find the Extreme Limit Technique, will he contact us?”

Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“Never. He sees the technique as his only trump card. He hopes it might make him stronger.”

“Then why keep talking about the Extreme Limit Technique?”

“Because it’s an important card for us too.”

Geom Mugeuk was predicting how Yang Seok would act.

“His desire to survive will lead us to the Extreme Limit Technique.”

Early next morning, Yang Seok headed to the sect leader’s hall.

Though suffering a hangover, his nerves were sharp with thoughts of meeting his father.

‘I must steal the Extreme Limit Technique.’

He didn’t understand why his father wanted it so badly but knew he must secure it at all costs. He couldn’t let Geom Mugeuk get it. It would be his secret weapon.

Yang Seok entered the hall.

His father sat at the far end in the grand seat.

His heart pounded with a tension he’d never felt before. He’d never come here with such feelings.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Yang Seok bowed respectfully as he approached.

Seeing his father, countless thoughts flooded his mind.

“Did you really name Ha Gyeol as successor?”

He wanted to ask why his father chose Ha Gyeol over his own son.

Normally, it was a question to ask—why did you misunderstand me? Why the scolding?

But he and his father were no longer on speaking terms.

Whether their relationship was broken by the recent incident might not be because of the incident itself. It might depend on what the relationship was like before the incident.

“Yesterday, the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master and the Lady of Binggung came and drank late into the night.”

The sect leader already knew.

Honestly, Geom Mugeuk’s visit was unwelcome. The Extreme Limit Technique would arrive within a day. After tomorrow, both his fate and that of the Northern Sea would change.

“What did you think?”

“An extraordinary person, as rumored.”

“Why did they come?”

Yang Seok didn’t tell the full truth.

“They talked about Elder Seo. They seemed suspicious about whether it was connected to us.”

The sect leader inwardly welcomed Elder Seo’s death. The Blood People allied with Seo and himself. Now Seo was dead, so his importance increased.

Like the rest of the martial world, the Northern Sea was very conservative.

New forces couldn’t take root without help from existing powers—much harder than in the Central Plains. And the Demon Sect and Martial Alliance wouldn’t allow a new power to rise quietly. Seo’s death was an opportunity for the sect leader.

Yang Seok cautiously asked,

“By the way, has the Extreme Limit Technique been found?”

“Not yet.”

Yang Seok was greatly disappointed for two reasons.

First, his father had lied. He already knew his father had found and was transporting the technique.

Second, the lie came without hesitation. That disappointed him more than being lied to.

“Don’t blame me later.”

Yang Seok concluded his father had abandoned him. The tower of distrust Geom Mugeuk had built the night before was complete.

That made him feel relieved. No need to overthink—now all that remained was to fight and survive.

“Try to avoid the Little Pill Master. There’s no good in entangling with him.”

“I will remember.”

Yang Seok bowed politely and left.

Today, his father should have told him honestly. The Extreme Limit Technique is coming; prepare thoroughly. I’m only telling you now because it’s important and will be used like this and that. Sorry for the late warning.

‘You shouldn’t have done that to me, Father.’

Yang Seok was quietly building justifications for future betrayal.

The next day, a carriage sped toward Bukhyeolmun.

A cold-eyed coachman drove it, with two mounted warriors following. They switched horses frequently, riding without rest. The destination was less than a hundred ri away.

The carriage slowed, trees had fallen blocking the path.

Slowly, the carriage stopped. The three warriors, including the coachman, tensed and scanned the surroundings.

The escort leader warned the two warriors.

“Be ready for an ambush.”

Shhh! Shhh!

Despite the warning, an unavoidable attack came. A man hidden behind rocks on the opposite side sprang up and launched a surprise assault.

The two warriors failed to dodge the quickly fired hidden weapons and fell.

The attacker was Yang Seok himself, wielding the Forbidden Martial World hidden weapon—Golden Dragon Seven-Step Death (Chilbo Pilsal). It was said that anyone hit within seven steps would surely die.

The escort warriors immediately charged at Yang Seok with swords drawn.

Yang Seok blocked the strikes.

A duel broke out. Though skilled, the escort warriors weren’t strong enough to handle Bukhyeolmun’s successor.

After fewer than twenty moves, one warrior sensed he couldn’t win. He had no hesitation in making a final decision.

His face flushed red. During the fight, Yang Seok suddenly tried to use the self-destruct technique nearby, startling the warrior.

Should I dodge? Should I block? Hesitating, then—

Bam!

The warrior’s face was smashed, and he collapsed. Before using the self-destruct technique, someone struck him down with powerful energy.

Yang Seok turned, shocked. There stood Ha Gyeol.

“You!”

Yang Seok was terrified; he hadn’t expected Ha Gyeol here.

“Finally doing your duty as a bodyguard.”

But Ha Gyeol hadn’t killed the subordinate trying to self-destruct for Yang Seok’s sake. He hadn’t yet to kill Yang Seok himself. To keep the Bukhyeolmun Lord as an asset, the son had to live.

“How did you get here?”

“Well, I’m Young Master Yang’s bodyguard, aren’t I? Wherever he goes, I go.”

“Stop your nonsense!”

Ha Gyeol’s smile vanished.

“Yang Seok, how did you know the carriage would come this way?”

“That’s for me to know.”

Yang Seok realized.

‘Those who died were his subordinates.’

Ha Gyeol thought so, too, because he wouldn’t appear here otherwise. Using self-destruct practitioners as subordinates? Who are you really?

Meanwhile, Ha Gyeol wondered how Yang Seok discovered the route.

Although the mission to escort the Extreme Limit Technique was urgent, the three dead were those Ha Gyeol trusted.

They had been used to secretly transport the technique, yet somehow Yang Seok learned their path.

Ha Gyeol suspected there might be a traitor inside.

But Yang Seok learned the route unexpectedly.

“You know, my brother and I have long been searching for the Extreme Limit Technique. During that time, we mainly worked on creating the shortest transport route from the Central Plains to the Northern Sea.”

They needed to gather people to bring to the Northern Sea for experiments—experiment, discard, repeat. The experiments would finish in days, but transporting them took too long.

“This time, your people were used, but we used the route we created. We # Nоvеlight # swapped horses at the prepared stations along the way.”

Now Ha Gyeol understood. From horse change records, they found the route. They used it to arrive quickly, but he hadn’t expected Yang Seok to notice.

“You’re smarter than I thought.”

“If I were smart, I would’ve killed you long ago.”

Ha Gyeol laughed scornfully. Even Yang Seok’s father couldn’t do that.

“This will cause Young Master Yang to face great punishment from the sect leader.”

Yang Seok pointed his sword.

“You’ll be blamed for this.”

It was better this way. They planned to treat it as if the escort warriors and Ha Gyeol fought and both perished. Of course, they didn’t know Ha Gyeol’s hidden martial skill.

“First, let’s see who truly possesses the Extreme Limit Technique.”

Yang Seok stepped toward the carriage, but Ha Gyeol quietly warned,

“Open that door and you’ll die by my hand.”

Cold energy flowed from Ha Gyeol.

Yang Seok drew his qi and faced him. As Ha Gyeol revealed his true strength, his aura was immense.

Though Ha Gyeol hadn’t shown half his power, Yang Seok felt overwhelmed. If he were ordinary, his father wouldn’t have chosen him.

Shocked by Ha Gyeol’s skill, Yang Seok again felt his father’s rejection.

“This one must die by the Little Pill Master’s hand.”

Should he throw away his sword now? Judging from earlier saving, Ha Gyeol likely wouldn’t kill him.

As they faced off, thick fog started swirling around.

This was a rare early morning occurrence.

Ha Gyeol sniffed the mist.

“Smells like alcohol?”

Yang Seok also caught the scent. Recognizing it wasn’t mist but qi, Ha Gyeol shouted,

“Chimma!”

Ha Gyeol’s gaze went to the carriage, now engulfed in mist.

“Protect the carriage!”

At Ha Gyeol’s shout, Yang Seok drew his sword and leapt toward the carriage.

Then—

Whoosh!

The mist that wrapped the carriage scattered with the wind.

Yang Seok cautiously opened the carriage door, sword ready. His heart dropped.

Inside, leaning in a chair, was someone he truly did not expect.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Yang Seok intently.

“I told you to contact me when you found it, didn’t I?”